According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2010 revealed today the perception of corruption in Hungary is below regional average; our country has fallen 4 positions on the ranking. For the first ever, 2010’s CPI positions Lithuania and Poland in front of Hungary.
Hungary is seen more corrupt
According to the global survey of the international coalition against corruption, Hungary with it’s 4.7 score ranks #50. With this result we finished below the region’s average. Among the neighbouring countries it is also Hungary to have shown the highest downturn: 0.4 point to last years CPI.
It is the indicators of the business sector that have fallen significantly in case of Hungary. The market is impatient and demands effective governmental response as soon as possible, since overall anti-corruption measures are essential in overcoming the economic crisis and in increasing the competitiveness of the country.
No results without political will
„Corruption becoming more sensible has to do with recent scandals and transparent accountability as well, which are also contributing factors to the fallen index” – said Noémi Alexa executive director of Transparency International Hungary, giving explanation for the decline. „Besides focusing on accountability, structural governmental anti-corruption measures aimed at prevention have to take place” – added the director of the organization against corruption, mentioning that several strategies were laid down, but each of them are yet to be carried out.
Global Challenges
Corruption is a global and severe problem. According to the 2010 CPI, nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score below five. To fully address challenges like the financial crisis, climate change, poverty, global anti-corruption measures are needed. For this reason TI advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption. Among decliners are the countries most affected by a financial crisis, thus a conclusion can be drawn: the perception of transparency is in connection with the economic status. For economic growth in these countries fighting corruption and increase in accountability is inevitable.
In the 2010 CPI, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore tie for first place with scores of 9.3. Unstable governments, often with a legacy of conflict in internal affairs, continue to dominate the bottom rungs of the CPI. Afghanistan and Myanmar share second to last place with a score of 1.4 and with Somalia coming in last with a score of 1.1.
CPI methodology
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is calculated yearly at the TI secretariat in Berlin by collecting and cumulating data from different sources. Thus the CPI is the „survey of the survey’s”, measuring local and international experts and businessmen’s perception of corruption in the examined countries. The composite index scores on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption) using 13 different sources.